diff --git a/src/stimulus/core/registry.py b/src/stimulus/core/registry.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a44bcda6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/stimulus/core/registry.py
@@ -0,0 +1,111 @@
+"""Central registry system for Stimulus components."""
+
+from importlib.metadata import entry_points
+from typing import Dict, Generic, Type, TypeVar
+
+T = TypeVar("T")
+
+
+class BaseRegistry(Generic[T]):
+    """Base registry class for component registration.
+
+    This class provides a foundation for registering and managing components in Stimulus.
+    Components must inherit from a specified base class and can be registered either
+    through decorators or entry points.
+
+    Args:
+        entry_point_group (str): The entry point group name for plugin discovery
+        base_class (Type[T]): The base class that all components must inherit from
+
+    Example:
+        ```python
+        class MyComponent(ABC):
+            pass
+
+
+        registry = BaseRegistry[MyComponent]("stimulus.components", MyComponent)
+
+
+        @registry.register("my_component")
+        class CustomComponent(MyComponent):
+            pass
+        ```
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, entry_point_group: str, base_class: Type[T]):
+        self._components: Dict[str, Type[T]] = {}
+        self.entry_point_group = entry_point_group
+        self.base_class = base_class
+        self.load_builtins()
+        self.load_plugins()
+
+    def register(self, name: str) -> callable:
+        """Decorator factory for component registration.
+
+        Args:
+            name (str): The name to register the component under
+
+        Returns:
+            callable: A decorator that registers the component
+
+        Raises:
+            TypeError: If the decorated class doesn't inherit from the base class
+        """
+
+        def decorator(cls: Type[T]):
+            if not issubclass(cls, self.base_class):
+                raise TypeError(f"{cls.__name__} must subclass {self.base_class.__name__}")
+            self._components[name] = cls
+            return cls
+
+        return decorator
+
+    def load_builtins(self):
+        """Override in child classes to register built-in components."""
+
+    def load_plugins(self):
+        """Load external components from entry points."""
+        try:
+            eps = entry_points()
+            if hasattr(eps, "select"):  # Python 3.10+ API
+                plugins = eps.select(group=self.entry_point_group)
+            else:  # Legacy API
+                plugins = eps.get(self.entry_point_group, [])
+
+            for ep in plugins:
+                self._components[ep.name] = ep.load()
+        except Exception as e:
+            # Log warning but don't fail if plugin loading fails
+            import warnings
+
+            warnings.warn(f"Failed to load plugins: {e!s}")
+
+    def get(self, name: str, **params) -> T:
+        """Instantiate a component with parameters.
+
+        Args:
+            name (str): The registered name of the component
+            **params: Parameters to pass to the component constructor
+
+        Returns:
+            T: An instance of the requested component
+
+        Raises:
+            ValueError: If the component name is not registered
+        """
+        cls = self._components.get(name)
+        if not cls:
+            available = ", ".join(sorted(self._components.keys()))
+            raise ValueError(
+                f"Unknown {self.base_class.__name__} '{name}'. Available: {available}",
+            )
+        return cls(**params)
+
+    @property
+    def component_names(self) -> list[str]:
+        """Get a list of all registered component names.
+
+        Returns:
+            list[str]: Sorted list of component names
+        """
+        return sorted(self._components.keys())
diff --git a/tests/stimulus/core/test_registry.py b/tests/stimulus/core/test_registry.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d7e0c2cd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/stimulus/core/test_registry.py
@@ -0,0 +1,102 @@
+"""Tests for the BaseRegistry class."""
+
+from abc import ABC, abstractmethod
+
+import pytest
+
+from stimulus.core.registry import BaseRegistry
+
+
+# Test fixtures
+class MockComponent(ABC):
+    """Mock abstract base class for testing."""
+
+    @abstractmethod
+    def do_something(self):
+        pass
+
+
+class ValidComponent(MockComponent):
+    """Valid component implementation."""
+
+    def __init__(self, param=None):
+        self.param = param
+
+    def do_something(self):
+        return "done"
+
+
+class InvalidComponent:
+    """Component that doesn't inherit from base class."""
+
+
+def test_registry_initialization():
+    """Test basic registry initialization."""
+    registry = BaseRegistry("test.group", MockComponent)
+    assert registry.entry_point_group == "test.group"
+    assert registry.base_class == MockComponent
+    assert len(registry.component_names) == 0
+
+
+def test_component_registration():
+    """Test component registration via decorator."""
+    registry = BaseRegistry("test.group", MockComponent)
+
+    @registry.register("valid")
+    class TestComponent(MockComponent):
+        def do_something(self):
+            return "test"
+
+    assert "valid" in registry.component_names
+    instance = registry.get("valid")
+    assert isinstance(instance, MockComponent)
+    assert instance.do_something() == "test"
+
+
+def test_invalid_component_registration():
+    """Test registration of invalid component."""
+    registry = BaseRegistry("test.group", MockComponent)
+
+    with pytest.raises(TypeError):
+
+        @registry.register("invalid")
+        class TestInvalid(InvalidComponent):
+            pass
+
+
+def test_component_instantiation_with_params():
+    """Test component instantiation with parameters."""
+    registry = BaseRegistry("test.group", MockComponent)
+
+    @registry.register("parameterized")
+    class TestComponent(ValidComponent):
+        pass
+
+    instance = registry.get("parameterized", param="test_value")
+    assert instance.param == "test_value"
+
+
+def test_unknown_component():
+    """Test error handling for unknown components."""
+    registry = BaseRegistry("test.group", MockComponent)
+
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError) as exc:
+        registry.get("nonexistent")
+
+    assert "Unknown MockComponent 'nonexistent'" in str(exc.value)
+    assert "Available:" in str(exc.value)
+
+
+def test_component_names_sorted():
+    """Test that component_names returns sorted list."""
+    registry = BaseRegistry("test.group", MockComponent)
+
+    @registry.register("zebra")
+    class ZebraComponent(ValidComponent):
+        pass
+
+    @registry.register("alpha")
+    class AlphaComponent(ValidComponent):
+        pass
+
+    assert registry.component_names == ["alpha", "zebra"]